This is the color picture version of the Wounded Hero Voyage I: Smallest Power Boat to Cross the Atlantic A True Life Adventure Against all odds two brothers, Ralph and Bob Brown, attempt to cross the North Atlantic Ocean unescorted in the smallest powerboat ever, a twenty one foot open fishing boat (without a cabin or keel), with less than a foot of free board. It is a low budget grueling voyage without the benefit of even enough money to buy insulated boots, waterproof gloves, or full body dry-suits. They left without enough money to even pay for the gas required to make the trip, let alone get back from Europe when and if they got there. They make city stops often during the day to attempt to find more sponsorship forcing them to travel often at night when it would be more dangerous and cold. They battle huge waves from two hurricanes, almost run out of fuel, and freeze as they pass by hundreds of icebergs and see thousands. The water temperature drops to 35 degrees near Greenland. During book I, the wind gets as high as 35 mph and when traveling over 35 degree water, makes for a bone chilling ride. In Book 2, the winds reach as high as 65 mph where even the chop is higher than the sides of the boat. Their voyage was and is dedicated to promoting Wounded Hero Foundations. The major sponsor is "I Am Second", which means "God is first." Part I is from Florida to Greenland. The voyage takes them along the East Coast of the United States and then a 450-mile crossing to Canada, most coastline and cities before making the 625-mile leap to Greenland for a total of over 4,000 miles in only the first book. 288 pages and 88 pictures with maps
About the Author: Robert usually goes by Bob. He was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, at a military hospital. He is forth in line of eight children. Like many military families, they moved a few times: Massachusetts to California; Satellite Beach, Florida; to the island of Grand Turk (southeast of Cuba); Satellite Beach, Florida; to Cocoa Beach, Florida; and finally Merritt Island, Florida, after high school. He grew up in a Catholic family, accepted Jesus into his life in the forth grade, baptized a second time as a Baptist in his twenties. Bob married Jill in 1986 and became Presbyterian and finally Methodist. The important thing is that they are a Bible believing family. After a move, while Bob attended a partial year, in a Catholic school, it was discovered that he had dyslexia (read words from the right to left instead of left to right) and repeated forth grade in a public school. Bob graduated from Cocoa Beach High School in 1976. Brevard Community College. Bob's parents were divorced and Bob along with most of his brothers and sisters lived in Shady Acres, a juvenile foster care center in Titusville. The Cullison family temporarily adopted Bob and he moved back to Cocoa Beach and then eventually back with his mom. Bob has worked since the age of 13 starting his own lawn mowing business, became a dog groomer, bus boy, salad worker, dish washer at Bernard Surf, started working at McDonald's Hamburgers and became a store manager, a little UPS work around the Christmas rush, became self employed as a painter/builder. He built and rebuilt several homes including a spec house (a two story which he lost his shirt on when the real estate market crashed in the 90's). Bob grew up around the water, and has surfed for over 35-years, likes to sail Hobie Cats, scuba dive, and swim. His other interests are hanging out with his family, movies, riding motorcycles, camping, hiking, climbing, snow skiing, wrestling, making videos, reading, eating... once he won a weight gaining contest and ate 11 and a three-quarter pounds of food in two-hours. Bob and Jill have two boys, Bryan and Jonathan, who are sports oriented. Recently his house (uninsured) was destroyed by fire while he was at church and with the help of many of his friends, nearby churches and schools, they have rebuilt the house. He started writing after a couple of years of listening to audio books while working. His first manuscript was a surf novel which he has finished but has yet to have published.